News

Students to send their work to space

New Mexico’s budding space industry is blasting off, and it’s going to take the work of UNM students with it. Spaceport America, located south of Truth and Consequences and expected to open business to passengers in summer 2011, will host an education launch May 1 with a UNM project on board. Olga Lavrova, faculty adviser for the project, said the educational value of allowing students to work on the project offered a futuristic application of classroom concepts. “This was a great opportunity for them to take what they learned in the classroom as well as see a spaceship take off and land,” she said.

Regents weigh hike in student fees

Student fees look, once again, like they’re going to increase by $10.10 to a total of $456.91 next year in order to fund three organizations and a Queer Resource Center. The groups and center were set to losing funding after Cheo Torres, vice president of Student Affairs, asked the Board of Regents not to increase student fees, a suggestion that conflicted with the Student Fee Review Board’s recommendation of a $10.10 increase in February. Torres rescinded the recommendation in a memo addressed to Provost Suzanne Ortega on Thursday.

UNM will approve budget at summit

The UNM Board of Regents may give a new meaning to cutting classes at today’s budget summit. Administrators will meet with several UNM departments in SUB Ballroom C to discuss and approve a final budget for the 2011 fiscal year. Raymond Sanchez, president of the Board of Regents, said that though UNM is facing a 7.7 percent reduction in state funding, he is confident the University is braced to handle it. “It has been a rough year financially and otherwise,” he said.

Campus Briefs

Campus Briefs UNM Student still doing that thing with his tongue In what area observers are calling “unsettling,” “awkward,” and “just perverse,” the guy in the SUB is still doing that thing with his tongue.

Moneysuckers don't care about poor students

After 121 years, the UNM officially changed its name to the University of Notable Moneysuckers. More than 75 percent of University students petitioned the legislature to change the University’s name to a more appropriate slogan that reflects its mission. Student James Joons, organizer of the event, said he gathered more than 500 pages of signatures in a petition, presented to the legislature, from supporting students, staff and faculty.

Tea Party protest

I’m a little teapot, Short and stout, Here is my handle.  Here is my spout.  When I get all steamed up, The bubbles of hate and heat rise violently within me. The pain is overwhelming. I squeal a glottal banshee bleat, A piercing massacre of my state of matter … of my soul. We are all familiar with this teenage emo, diary poetry version of the nursery song “I’m a little tea pot,” but until last Wednesday never has the boiling point it describes been so real.

UNM drowning in wet campus

It’s been four days since UNM repealed its “dry campus” rules, and the Daily Bobo still can’t find a single sober person to interview. “Issshh ‘cuz we’re all- all are celebratin!” said Petey “Taz” Radisson, a drunk student.

Duck Pond adventure uncovers toxic treasure

Because everyone and everything seems to gravitate toward the Duck Pond, Daily Bobo editor-in-chief Eva Avenue got to wondering what’s at the bottom.

Slam originator headed to Duke City

When Marc Smith’s name is mentioned at a poetry slam, the audience is supposed to shout, “Who cares!” So who cares that Smith, said to be the originator of the slam poetry art form, is coming to Albuquerque on Thursday? Albuquerque cares, said Danny Solis, Albuquerque Slam Poet Laureate. “Albuquerque loves poetry and the poetry slam, and Marc Smith is the founder of the poetry slam,” he said.

Kaine: Loan reform will make college affordable

The Daily Lobo sat in on a conference call with the head of the Democratic National Committee and the head of the College Democrats of America. Tim Kaine, chairman of the DNC, and Katie Naranjo, president of the CDA, held the conference call Tuesday to discuss the new Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. The SAFRA is attached to the health care bill and will make college more affordable for students, Kaine and Naranjo said. Kaine said the bill will free up $68 billion in federal funds, which will go to help lower the cost of student loans. “It eliminates subsidies that are just not in it to private bankers by switching to a system of direct lending for federal student loans,” he said.

Regents get final say on secession

The UNM Regents will determine whether or not the School of Law will secede from GPSA. Of 343 law students, 110 voted from March 24-26 by e-mail ballot on whether they should leave GPSA.

Students host vigil for slain professor

Students, staff and community members continue to remember the life and work of professor Hector Torres and student Stefania Gray. The two were found dead at Torres’ home March 8.

ASUNM Student Government Election

Wolfpack wants to “howl yes” on sustainability, campus security and free student tickets to athletic events. Wolfpack ASUNM presidential candidate David Conway and vice presidential candidate Zoe Riebli said these issues are important to Wolfpack’s goal of moving UNM forward. “The concise message is that we’re trying to bring the University toward a progressive future,” Conway said.

Admins just don't understand

About 50 students held a rally at Smith Plaza on Monday asking the administration to think twice before superseding the fee recommendations of the Student Fee Review Board. Holding signs that read “Student fees are a student right” and “Save our programs,” the group of student government leaders, undergraduates and graduates attempted to justify a $10 increase on students for the 2010-11 academic year to fund several nonprofit organizations and a queer resource center. “We respect the administration.

GPSA clarifies eight (8) amendments

The Graduate and Professional Student Association held a special meeting Saturday to clarify the constitutional amendments on which graduate students will vote.

Administration caps fees, student groups take action

Student organizations and governing bodies are speaking out against an administrative recommendation that prohibits student fees from increasing this year. Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, vice president of student affairs, suggested that all new-money recommendations from the Student Fee Review Board be ignored to keep student fees at their current level.

'Whose streets? Our streets!'

Community members paid homage to civil rights activist Cesar Chavez Saturday yelling “Whose streets?

Law students say no thanks to GPSA

Students at the UNM School of Law voted last week to secede from GPSA. Three-fourths of those who voted agreed with the statement, “I vote to withdraw the law school’s affiliation with GPSA.” The number of voters was not readily available this weekend. Genevieve Graham, who helped organize the secession vote, said she had expected the law students to vote in favor of seceding.

Question of the Week: What do you think about the House passing the health care bill?

Input sought on new dorms in weekly forum held in SUB

If you are a member of the UNM community, the University wants your input on the future of main campus residence halls. Every Thursday night until the end of the semester, Student Housing Outreach Workshops are held in the SUB to get feedback about new dorms from students, faculty and community members, said Kim Murphy, UNM’s director of Real Estate. “Some of our dorms date from the 1950s so they are easily 60 years old and some of them are in need of refurbishment or replacement,” he said.